Optional blackjack bet and table for making the same

ABSTRACT

A method for playing blackjack and a table adapted for playing a blackjack game includes an optional side bet. This side bet lasts from the start to the end of a shoe and, if all of a certain card value are dealt prior to a shuffle, or cushion card is dealt, then the side bet pays off. If the shuffle card is dealt prior to all of a certain value of card being dealt, then the house keeps the side bets. For example, with a two deck shoe, there are eight 5-value cards (two five of clubs, two five of spades, two five of hearts, and two five of diamonds). If these eight cards are dealt before the shuffle card is dealt, the players win the side bet. The position of the shuffle card can vary the odds.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication number 61/607,940, filed Mar. 7, 2012, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to blackjack tables and play and moreparticularly, to an optional blackjack bet that wins if all of a certaincard is dealt prior to a shuffle card.

Conventional optional blackjack bets are short in duration and thus, lowon suspense due both to the fact that they only last one hand and alsoto the fact that they rarely get close to winning. Such conventional,one-hand side bets include matching suits, double sevens, cards addingto ten, two queen of hearts, and the like.

These conventional bets only benefit the casino in terms of revenue, asthese side bets often do not entice players to play a particular game.These side bets, because they only last for one hand, do not buildsuspense and only offer occasional excitement.

As can be seen, there is a need for a blackjack game that includes anoptional side bet that can last an entire shoe, build suspense duringthe game, and entice players to play at that particular table.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for wagering in ablackjack game comprises placing an optional side bet during a side betopen period; placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards; dealingblackjack hands to players; tracking a certain valued card whenever thecertain valued card is dealt; paying players that placed the optionalside bet if all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards aredealt before the cushion card is dealt; and keeping the optional sidebet if the cushion card is dealt before all of the certain valued cardsin the shoe of cards are dealt.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method for wagering in ablackjack game comprises placing an optional side bet during a side betopen period prior to dealing a first blackjack hand; placing a cushioncard in a shoe of cards; dealing blackjack hands to players; tracking alow valued card whenever the low valued card is dealt; paying playersthat placed the optional side bet if all of the low valued cards in theshoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt; keeping theoptional side bet if the cushion card is dealt before all of the lowvalued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt; and starting a new shoe ofcards if all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealtbefore the cushion card is dealt, regardless of whether the cushion cardhas or has not been dealt.

In a further aspect of the present invention, a blackjack tablecomprises a traditional betting area for players to place a bet for eachblackjack hand; an optional bet area for players to place an optionalbet during an open bet period; a bet holding area for holding theoptional bet until the optional bet is won or the house wins theoptional bet; and a card tracking area providing one spot for each cardhaving a given value in a shoe, where lammer markers are placed overeach spot in the card tracking area each time the given value card isdealt.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary blackjack table for playingblackjack with an optional side bet according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart describing the play of a shoe, with the optionalside bet of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a method forplaying blackjack and a table adapted for playing a blackjack game. Theblackjack game can include an optional side bet. This side bet lastsfrom the start to the end of a shoe and, if all of a certain card valueare dealt prior to a shuffle, or cushion card is dealt, then the sidebet pays off. If the shuffle card is dealt prior to all of a certainvalue of card being dealt, then the house keeps the side bets. Forexample, with a two deck shoe, there are eight 5-value cards (two fiveof clubs, two five of spades, two five of hearts, and two five ofdiamonds). If these eight cards are dealt before the shuffle card isdealt, the players win the side bet. The position of the shuffle cardcan vary the odds. Typically, in a two deck shoe, the shuffle card canbe placed about twenty-six cards from the bottom of the shoe.

The method, game play and table design of the present invention providesan additional gaming experience at a blackjack game. In addition, asdiscussed below, the method of the present invention can cause an earlyshuffle in situations where the cards are imbalanced and thecasino/house advantage is likely diminished. Moreover, the method of thepresent invention also provides a reason for a player to play until theend of a shoe, rather than leave early.

Referring to FIG. 1, a blackjack table 10 can be designed with atraditional betting area 12 and an optional side bet betting area. Likeconventional tables, the table 10 can include a peek area 16 forchecking whether the dealer's hidden card is a 10, a face card or anace, as appropriate. The table 10 can also include a dealer bankroll 18.

During play of a shoe, the dealing of a certain tracked card ismonitored. An area 20 can be provided on the table for the dealer toplace a lammer button each time the tracked card is dealt. For exemplarypurposes, this card will be a five card, but any card can be tracked.For house advantage, as discussed below, this card is typically a lowvalue card, such as a 3, 4, 5 or 6, for example. The table 10 can alsoinclude a bet holding area 22, where each players optional bet is heldduring the dealing of a shoe.

The table 10 shown in FIG. 1 is set up for a two-deck shoe blackjackgame. The method of the present invention could apply to various shoesizes, including 1-deck, 4-deck or the like. With a 4-deck shoe, forexample, there would be 16 marked areas 20 for lammer buttons to trackwhen each of the tracked cards is dealt. Also, while the table 10 showsplaces for 5 players, the number of player seats can vary depending onthe size of the table, for example. With more or less player seats, thenumber of bet holding areas 22 will be adjusted.

Referring now to FIG. 2, during the start of a shoe, a dealer willprovide each player the chance to make a “5-bet”. The term 5-bet refersto an optional bet that all of the fives will be dealt before theshuffle card. As described above, this can be a 4-bet, or a 3-bet, orthe like, and typically, is based on a low value card. Typically, thechance to make a 5-bet is limited to before any hands are dealt,however, in some variations, players may have an option to make the betafter one or more hands are dealt. Typically, the dealer can move anyoptional bets to the bet holding area 22 when the betting period isclosed.

Typically, a player is required to make a standard bet for every hand inthe shoe to keep their 5-bet active. However, in some embodiments, theplayer may be allowed to sit out one or more hands for their standardbet, while their 5-bet stands until the end of the shoe.

The shuffle card can be placed at various locations in the shoe.Typically, the shuffle card is placed at one-quarter of the number ofcards. Therefore, in a 2-deck shoe, the shuffle card is placed after 26cards from the bottom.

As the game of blackjack is played, the dealer will place a lammerbutton each time a five-value card is dealt. At the end of each hand,the dealer will look to see if all the five-value cards have been dealt.If not, and if the cushion card has not yet been dealt, another hand isplayed. If not, and the cushion card was dealt during that hand, theoptional bets are taken by the house and the cards are shuffled for anew shoe. If the cushion card and the last five-value card are dealt inthe same hand, typically it would depend on which card was dealt firstto determine if the players win their optional side bet.

If all of the five-value cards have been dealt before the cushion card,then, at the end of that hand (or at the end of that shoe, depending onhouse rules), the optional bet is paid to the players. The payout canvary for winners of this optional bet. For example, a 5-1 payout may bedetermined by the house as a bet that attracts players but stillprovides a house advantage.

If the optional bet wins (all the five-value cards are dealt before thecushion card), and the cushion card has not been dealt yet, typicallythe winning of the optional bet will trigger a shuffle and a new shoebeing used for the next hand (which can also opening up a new round ofoptional bet opportunities for the players). This feature can helpprevent a house-unfavorable card situation. Typically, when thepercentage of high value cards (such as 10's and face cards) increases,the player's odds of winning also increases. Therefore, if all of thefives, for example, are dealt and there are still hands remaining in theshoe before the cushion card, this could indicate the possibility thatthe remaining cards may be against the house. Therefore, by shuffling atthe point where the optional bet is won by the players, this possiblehouse disadvantage is avoided.

The optional side bet, as described above, lasts the length of theblackjack shoe. With a two-deck show and the cushion card placed after26 cards from the bottom, the odds to win are at a probability of about0.09103. However, the probability that seven five-cards will be dealt isabout 0.26668. These odds can result in excitement building, especiallyif seven of the five-cards are dealt, but still favoring the house thatthe eighth five-card will not be dealt before the cushion card.

Variations to the game may be provided by specific house rules. Forexample, mid-shoe entry may be forbidden, as a player could realize aplayer advantage (because, essentially, the house is partially “cardcounting”) and desire to join in mid-shoe. A further variation may beprovided with the first card dealt from a new shoe (a “burn” card thatis typically not revealed to the players). This card could be used as acard that the players don't see and is not counted, to help increasehouse odds. Or, in some embodiments, this card could be used, forexample, as a played card in that, when the cushion card is encounteredand seven five-cards are out, the dealer can reveal the burn card and,if it is the eighth five, a certain action can take place (such as theplayers being returned their bet, or the players get to keep theiroptional bet for the next shoe (but can only add to it, and not take itaway), or the like).

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for wagering in a blackjack game,comprising: placing an optional side bet during a side bet open period;placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards; dealing blackjack hands toplayers; tracking a certain valued card whenever the certain valued cardis dealt; paying players that placed the optional side bet if all of thecertain valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushioncard is dealt; and keeping the optional side bet if the cushion card isdealt before all of the certain valued cards in the shoe of cards aredealt.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bet open period is beforedealing a first blackjack hand to players from the shoe of cards.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the cushion card is placed about 25% from thebottom of the shoe of cards.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein thecertain valued card has a low card value.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the certain valued card is a five-card.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising starting a new shoe of cards if all of the certainvalued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card isdealt, regardless of whether the cushion card has or has not been dealt.7. A method for wagering in a blackjack game, comprising: placing anoptional side bet during a side bet open period prior to dealing a firstblackjack hand; placing a cushion card in a shoe of cards; dealingblackjack hands to players; tracking a low valued card whenever the lowvalued card is dealt; paying players that placed the optional side betif all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards are dealt before thecushion card is dealt; keeping the optional side bet if the cushion cardis dealt before all of the low valued cards in the shoe of cards aredealt; and starting a new shoe of cards if all of the low valued cardsin the shoe of cards are dealt before the cushion card is dealt,regardless of whether the cushion card has or has not been dealt.
 8. Themethod of claim 7, wherein the cushion card is placed about 25% from thebottom of the shoe of cards.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the lowvalued card is a five-value card.
 10. A blackjack table comprising: atraditional betting area for players to place a bet for each blackjackhand; an optional bet area for players to place an optional bet duringan open bet period; a bet holding area for holding the optional betuntil the optional bet is won or the house wins the optional bet; and acard tracking area providing one spot for each card having a given valuein a shoe, where lammer markers are placed over each spot in the cardtracking area each time the given value card is dealt.